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Winter in the Madonie

Snow in the Madonie: skiing, snowshoes, huts and roads

Piano Battaglia is the only place to ski: a chairlift, a ski tow, a magic carpet and three runs. Lifts, snowshoeing, sledging, huts and chains, with sources.

Piano Zucchi under snow seen from above, with the small lake and houses among snowy woods
Carlo Columba / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

Season status

2026-27 season: no opening date yet

As of 19 October 2026 there is no opening date for the Piano Battaglia lifts. The tender to hand them to a private operator drew no bids, and the Metropolitan City of Palermo extended Palermo Energia's management until 31 March 2027. The lifts only open when there is enough snow: last winter they restarted on 2 February, stopped four days later because of rain and reopened on 29 March.

Checked on 19 October 2026 · Source: PalermoToday, 5 ottobre 2026 , Palermo Energia, avvisi impianti

Where can you ski in the Madonie?

Only at Piano Battaglia, in the municipality of Petralia Sottana. It is the only place in the Madonie with ski lifts: a chairlift on Monte Mufara, a ski tow and a magic carpet for beginners.

There are three runs, one blue, one red and one black, about 4.5 km in all. It is a small resort that lives on a few weeks of good snow.

So the first thing to do before you leave is read the operator’s notices. Last winter the lifts opened on 2 February and closed on the 6th because of rain.

And when the lifts are closed?

The snow is still there. On the plateau there are areas for sledging, routes for snowshoes and the beech wood of Monte Mufara.

Piano Battaglia is also where the climb to Pizzo Carbonara starts, the highest peak in the Madonie. In winter it is a different mountain: only go with experience, the right gear and the avalanche bulletin.

Piano Zucchi, lower down on the road up from Collesano and Isnello, has no lifts. The Metropolitan City of Palermo calls it the gateway to Piano Battaglia.

What you won’t find

We have not found groomed cross-country trails in the Madonie, a snow park or rental shops with a public price list. If anything changes we will add it here, with the source.

Snow guides

Key facts

Where to ski
Piano Battaglia (Petralia Sottana), the only place in the Madonie with lifts Stable fact · Città Metropolitana di Palermo, relazione del bando di concessione (giugno 2026), checked on 19 October 2026
Lifts
Mufara two-seater chairlift, ski tow, magic carpet Stable fact · PalermoToday, 5 ottobre 2026, checked on 19 October 2026
Runs
3: Giovanni Falcone (blue), Paolo Borsellino (red), Vincenzo Mollica (black) Stable fact · Dovesciare, cartina di Piano Battaglia, checked on 19 October 2026
Length of the runs
About 4.5 km in total Stable fact · Città Metropolitana di Palermo, relazione del bando di concessione (giugno 2026), checked on 19 October 2026
Chairlift altitudes
From 1,563 to 1,833 m Stable fact · Città Metropolitana di Palermo, relazione del bando di concessione (giugno 2026), checked on 19 October 2026
Snow on the plateau
About 6-8 weeks a year (estimate) Stable fact · Città Metropolitana di Palermo, relazione del bando di concessione (giugno 2026), checked on 19 October 2026
Operator
Palermo Energia S.p.A., extended until 31 March 2027 Changes every season · PalermoToday, 5 ottobre 2026, checked on 19 October 2026
Day pass 2025/26
€30 weekdays, €35 weekends and holidays (reduced €20 and €25) Changes every season · Palermo Energia, listino skipass 2025/2026, checked on 19 October 2026
Last winter opening hours
9:00-15:30 (29 March 2026) Changes every season · Madonie Press, 28 marzo 2026, checked on 19 October 2026

Facts that change (openings, prices, times) are correct on the check date: look at the source before you set off.

Places

Winter roads

Chains, winter tyres and closures on the roads to Piano Battaglia and Piano Zucchi.

Getting there in winter Madonie roads

Where to stay near the slopes

From our listings, within 5 km of Piano Battaglia or Piano Zucchi. In winter, call first: not all of them stay open.

Where to eat near the slopes

Frequently asked questions

Can you ski in the Madonie?
At Piano Battaglia, the only resort in the Madonie with lifts: one chairlift, one ski tow, a magic carpet and three runs, about 4.5 km in all. The lifts only run when there is enough snow, on average 6-8 weeks a year.
When do the Piano Battaglia lifts open in winter 2026-27?
As of 19 October 2026 there is no date. Openings are announced by Palermo Energia on its Piano Battaglia page, often the day before.
How much is a ski pass at Piano Battaglia?
On the 2025/26 price list a day pass cost €30 on weekdays and €35 on weekends and holidays, an afternoon pass €15 and €20. Reduced prices for children up to 14 and people over 65. The 2026-27 price list is not out yet.
Do you need snow chains to drive up to Piano Battaglia?
With snow or ice you must have winter tyres or chains on board: the operator and civil protection repeat it at every reopening. Roads and orders are in the guide to getting there in winter.
Is there a cross-country ski trail in the Madonie?
We have not found any groomed, marked ones. Some snowshoe routes can be done on cross-country or touring skis, but without a prepared track and only with experience.
How can I see if there is snow at Piano Battaglia right now?
Check the three public webcams linked on this page (SkylineWebcams, Meteopalermo, Weather Sicily) and the Piano Battaglia weather page. None of the webcams belongs to the operator or a public body.

Sources

Updated on 19 October 2026

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